Abstract
Function elements (FE) are vital components of nanochannel-systems for artificially regulating ion transport. Conventionally, the FE at inner wall (FEIW) of nanochannel−systems are of concern owing to their recognized effect on the compression of ionic passageways. However, their properties are inexplicit or generally presumed from the properties of the FE at outer surface (FEOS), which will bring potential errors. Here, we show that the FEOS independently regulate ion transport in a nanochannel−system without FEIW. The numerical simulations, assigned the measured parameters of FEOS to the Poisson and Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations, are well fitted with the experiments, indicating the generally explicit regulating-ion-transport accomplished by FEOS without FEIW. Meanwhile, the FEOS fulfill the key features of the pervious nanochannel systems on regulating-ion-transport in osmotic energy conversion devices and biosensors, and show advantages to (1) promote power density through concentrating FE at outer surface, bringing increase of ionic selectivity but no obvious change in internal resistance; (2) accommodate probes or targets with size beyond the diameter of nanochannels. Nanochannel-systems with only FEOS of explicit properties provide a quantitative platform for studying substrate transport phenomena through nanoconfined space, including nanopores, nanochannels, nanopipettes, porous membranes and two-dimensional channels.
Highlights
Function elements (FE) are vital components of nanochannel-systems for artificially regulating ion transport
In traditional nanochannel-systems, there are two troublesome “black boxes” which are not well addressed: one is the role of FE at outer surface (FEOS) on ion transport, which has been longtermed neglected; and the other is inexplicit chemical and physical properties of FE located deep inside nanochannel which is subject to that few test techniques with test tips or testing liquids, that can sufficiently contact with FE in the confined space at the nanoscale[2]
The FEOS have been certified to regulate ion transport independently and their mechanism can be well demonstrated through the Poisson and Nernst–Planck equations assigned by measured properties from atomic force microscope (AFM), time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToFSIMS), and solid-surface zeta potential analyzer (SSZPA)
Summary
Function elements (FE) are vital components of nanochannel-systems for artificially regulating ion transport. The FE at inner wall (FEIW) of nanochannel−systems are of concern owing to their recognized effect on the compression of ionic passageways Their properties are inexplicit or generally presumed from the properties of the FE at outer surface (FEOS), which will bring potential errors. In traditional nanochannel-systems, there are two troublesome “black boxes” which are not well addressed: one is the role of FEOS on ion transport, which has been longtermed neglected; and the other is inexplicit chemical and physical properties of FE located deep inside nanochannel which is subject to that few test techniques with test tips or testing liquids, that can sufficiently contact with FE in the confined space at the nanoscale[2] Both theoretical[20,21] and experimental investigation[22,23,24,25] showed the synergistic effects of FEOS on regulatingion-transport in the presence of FEIW. The FEOS fulfill the key capabilities of nanochannels in osmotic energy conversion and biosensing and bring new features: (1) increase of ionic selectivity but no obvious change in resistance and (2) accommodating probes or targets with size beyond the diameter of nanochannels
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